Writer 1978: I Need to Give the Literary World a Lesson

Chapter 104 Xinhua News Agency, February 17
The tall pillars and spotless steps at the entrance make one unconsciously cautious when passing by. Stepping into the Moscow Restaurant, the more than seven-meter-high ceiling inspires a sense of awe.

Large snowflakes dotted the rooftop, contrasting beautifully with the white tablecloth covering the dining table below. Inside, many young people in military overcoats sat at the table, talking loudly, while couples in love watched the scene with furrowed brows, occasionally whispering to each other.

Young women were singing Russian songs in the middle of the restaurant, such as "Katyusha" or "Moscow Nights," their elegant piano music seeming out of place with the noisy atmosphere.

Zhu Lin smiled and asked Liu Yimin what he wanted to eat. Knowing that he had never been here before, she explained to him the best food available.

"What do you want to eat?" Liu Yimin asked in return.

"The braised beef in a pot is delicious."

"Me too!"

"Here"

"Me too!"

The braised beef in a pot cost 1.4 yuan, and they also serve fried rice with eggs. We ordered two cups of black tea for 3 mao, and in the end, the two of us spent 5 yuan. Zhu Lin was worried that Liu Yimin wouldn't have enough to eat, so after ordering, she kept asking Liu Yimin if he wanted to eat this or that.

"Comrade Zhu Lin, there's no need to be so polite. I'm not a big eater, this is enough."

Zhu Lin stopped after hearing this.

Then she began to explain to Liu Yimin the various stories that happened in Old Moscow, her eyes crinkling into crescents with laughter as she recounted the exciting parts. She knew all the strange and wonderful things that had happened in Old Moscow by heart, and now they came in handy.

As Zhu Lin was speaking, she noticed that Liu Yimin was staring at her, and she blushed and quickly lowered her head.

"Comrade Liu Yimin, what are you looking at?"

"I'm not looking at anything. What are you looking at?" Liu Yimin asked Zhu Lin with a smile.

"I didn't see anything?"

A strange smile curved Liu Yimin's lips as he said calmly, "Didn't see anything? Then why don't you dare to look up and open your eyes to look at me?"

"I am Comrade Liu Yimin!" Zhu Lin said hastily, changing the subject, "Comrade Liu Yimin, do you know that your poem is currently the most popular among our classmates?"

"Know!"

"Which song?" Zhu Lin composed himself and raised his head, but his gaze lingered between Liu Yimin's chin and chest.

"Distance and Proximity: I feel that when you look at me, I am very far away, but when you look at the clouds, they are very close."

This poem is as impactful to adolescent boys and girls as the so-called "Girl's X" because both boys and girls like to romanticize their imagined love and imagine its beauty.

"Yes, that's the poem. Although it was published in Weiminghu, it didn't sell as many copies as Poetry Journal, but many students copied it into their notebooks. Chu Hong often recited it during that time: 'When you look at me, I am far away; when you look at the clouds, I am very close.'"

As Zhu Lin spoke of Chu Hong, the blush on her face slowly faded.

Liu Yimin couldn't help but tease again, "So, when you look at me, am I very far away?"

Zhu Lin was choked and speechless again, her face flushed red once more. Fortunately, the waiter brought out the braised beef in a pot, and Zhu Lin hurriedly asked Liu Yimin to taste it and see if it was good.

Braised beef in a pot is the signature dish here. It's stewed until tender and flavorful, and Liu Yimin praised it as he ate.

After finishing their meal, the two quickly left the Moscow restaurant.

On the way back, the sun had already set, and I was shivering as I pedaled my bicycle.

"Comrade Liu Yimin, you rarely write poems about love, and you haven't written a novel about love yet. Will you write one in the future?"

"Yes, love is an eternal theme in literature. The ancient tales of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, and Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei in 'The Peony Pavilion' are all classics that have been passed down through generations. Naturally, I am no exception," Liu Yimin replied, panting heavily.

"Then I'll definitely have to see it then!" Liu Yimin smiled but didn't say anything. He would not only let you see it, but also let you act in it.

At the entrance of the Beijing People's Art Theatre, Liu Yimin waved his hand and pushed his bicycle into the theatre.

Zhu Lin didn't ride his bicycle away until Liu Yimin entered the Beijing People's Art Theatre building, but he was thinking to himself, "Why didn't he even say goodbye when he left?"

Thinking of Liu Yimin's words in the restaurant, she blushed again, constantly wondering what he meant!
Sigh! I think you're really far away!

The next day, when school started, Liu Yimin packed his bedding, got into Cao Yu's car, and arrived at the dormitory building by Weiming Lake. The students stopped and stared at the car from afar.

Liu Zhenyun and his two companions were happily embracing and expressing their longing for each other downstairs in the dormitory when Liu Yimin called out to them, "You three, come and help me with my luggage!"

"Here comes Yimin!" Liu Zhenyun ran over quickly, took the bedding roll from Liu Yimin's hand, and carefully looked at the driver, Lao Shi.

After the car drove away, Li Xueqin punched Liu Yimin in the chest and said with a smile, "Not bad, you even have a car now! Comrade Liu Yimin, this trend shouldn't be allowed to continue. You should learn to maintain a simple and frugal lifestyle."

"Yes, yes, it's too flashy!"

"Hurry up and take this upstairs for me. When did you arrive?" Liu Yimin urged, ignoring their teasing.

Liu Zhenyun said, "I arrived yesterday, and Li Xueqin and Chen Dazhi arrived today."

After carrying the luggage upstairs, Liu Zhenyun asked Liu Yimin if the script had been revised.

"It's fixed, otherwise I wouldn't be able to go home for the New Year. I'll only go back after the Lunar New Year. Zhenyun, could you pass me a pillow? Has the overall ranking of our department's grades from last year been released yet?"

"Out!"

How are your grades?

"You barely passed. You're number one in our department. I don't know how you studied!" Li Xueqin said helplessly, sitting cross-legged on the bed.

"Yimin, when 'Mr. Donkey' is performed at the Beijing People's Art Theatre, can we go see it together?"

"Sure, I'll see if I can help you get some tickets later."

When the performance actually starts, the Beijing People's Art Theatre will definitely give Liu Yimin a few tickets, but it's uncertain whether it will be for the first performance. Tickets for the first performance are usually very difficult to buy, so the number of tickets given out internally will definitely be controlled.

"This is the first time I've had the opportunity to see a play," Liu Zhenyun said happily to the three of them.

Li Xueqin chimed in, "I've seen it once, but our local drama troupe is definitely not as good as the Beijing People's Art Theatre!"

Two days later, it was February 17th.

On February 17, 1979, the Sino-Japanese War officially began. This war caught many people off guard, but those who were paying attention had already noticed that the official media's recent use of language against the "monkey" (referring to the Japanese) had become increasingly harsh, and that the war was already expected.

"Yimin, listen to the school broadcast!" In an instant, all the windows of the dormitories and teaching buildings were opened by students, who all ran to the side and looked at the loudspeaker that was broadcasting. Students and teachers walking around the campus also stopped in their tracks.

[Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, February 17, 1979: Xinhua News Agency, acting on the orders of the Chinese government, issued the following statement on February 17, 1979: The YN authorities, ignoring repeated warnings from the Chinese side, have recently launched a series of actions, which have forced them to take self-defense and counterattacks!]

In the dormitory, a group of people were gathered around a newspaper, carefully reading a few lines of small print. Li Xueqin asked with a smile, "Guess how YN and the others are doing right now?"

"How did it go? You must have been beaten to a pulp. Let me tell you, I served in the army. Compared to us, you ingrates are nothing. We are their masters. You don't know your place!" Liu Zhenyun said angrily.

Liu Yimin glanced at the newspaper, smiled, and said, "Good morning, Y South!"

However, when he thought about the sacrifices that might be made by the frontline soldiers, Liu Yimin lost his excitement at teaching the White Sheep Wolf a lesson.

(End of this chapter)